How to Trek to Everest Base Camp

Trekking to Everest Base Camp in Nepal was one of the highlights of our trip around the world. In fact, this trek was so important to us that we planned the entire year around this two week adventure.

Trekking to base camp was more challenging than we anticipated, both physically and mentally, but was absolutely worth it. While traveling through the Himalayas of Nepal, spinning the prayer wheels, visiting Buddhist monasteries, and meeting the very friendly Nepali people, we made memories we will never forget.

Enjoying a Trek to Everest Base Camp

Generally speaking, trekking beyond Everest Base Camp to further camps or summit is only available for those very experience trekkers and mountaineers. It needs at least a month or more for the trek. Special permits from Lhasa are required. While the treks and B are achievable goals for most of people who are fit and well prepared. Camping, food supply, transfer, gears can be arranged easily. Following is the detailed guide on the Trek B - Old Tingri to Everest Base Camp Trekking which also covers the trek from Rongbuk Monastery to the Everest Base Camp

The top of the world Mount Everest is always a dream destination for the intrepid hikers. Today, it has become a popular trek for people from all walks of life who want to witness the world’s highest peak. As widely known by people, Mount Everest has two parts – south face in Nepal and north face in Tibet. Unlike the south face in Nepal, the north face of Mount Everest is a high land - less crowded, quiet and peaceful, no vast forests, no many towns, no great lodges, with average altitude of over 4500 meters. There are three major trekking:

A. Easy short trekking from Rongbuk Monastery to Everest Base Camp;

B. Moderate trekking from Old Tingri to Everest Base Camp;

C. Trekking beyond Everest Base Camp to Camp 2, Camp 3…Summit.

When is the Best Time for Trekking Everest Base Camp in Tibet?

Typically, there are mainly two routes in Tibet for the trekking to the Everest Base Camp. The following two Everest Base Camp trekking routes are favored most by our clients.

One route, also the preliminary trekking route is the old Tingri to Everest Base Camp Trek. And apparently, trekking from old Tingri to the Everest Base Camp can be much more thrilling than arriving at there just by taking the tourist buses.

The other route, which is also regarded as more competitive and challenging one, is the Everest Base Camp to Advanced Base Camp trekking, which can provide you with the unparalleled experiences to trek so close to the Mount Everest.

What is the Best Time for Tingri to Mount Everest Base Camp trekking?

The best time to trek from Tingri to the Everest Base Camp is from April to June and September to October. The temperature maintains at a comfortable level with less rainfall but much more sunshine. Mellows are turning green and sheep and goats can be seen grazing land grass everywhere.

If you have no alternative time during these months, you can also take July and August into consideration. The summer rain masses the trekking trail a little bit, but it never slows down your forward steps, for the rain doesn’t last for a long time.

Old Tingri to Everest Base Camp Trekking

During this trek, you will walk in the shadow of giant Mount Everest, which will give you an exciting mixture of solitude, wildlife seeing as well as physical and mental challenge. This route takes you to traverse from the vast plain of Tingri, along a motorable track, to the wild Ra-chu Valley, then enter pastures of herders and livedock, and go up to the highest point Pang-la (5350m), then walk up and down along isolated valleys to reach the final destination – Everest Base Camp.

Enjoying a Trek to Everest Base Camp

Wonderful View of Cho Oyu Peak

Tibetan Village along the Trek

Lovely Tibetan Kids

Rongbuk Monastery

Looking at Mount Everest Close from Everest Base Camp

Trekking At a Glance

Starting: Old Tingri (Shegar Town)
Finishing: Everest Base Camp (north face Tibet side)
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
Distance: 70km (43.5miles)
Duration: 3~4 days
Highest elevation: Pang-la Pass (5350m)
Accommodation: Camping
Best time to trek: Apr to Oct
Nearest city: Shigatse

DAY 1: Old Tingri Town to Lungchang

4~5 hours / 12km / 150m Ascent

After obtaining admission ticket of Everest National Park at Old Tingri Town, you will start today’s trekking to Lungchang Village, which is manly on plains and valleys, and usually costs about 4~5 hours. Today you will walk at slow pace to adjust yourself to the high altitude and thin air. About half of today’s trekking will be done in the beautiful Ra-chu Valley where you can enjoy vast meadows with herd. You will also pass by several Tibetan villages whose people mainly make living on herding. The route partly follow a bumping earth road which allows vehicles passing, and partly take straight paths in the valley. Today’s highest point is a pass with altitude of 5170m. Getting over the pass and pass by a small Tibetan monastery, you will arrive at the campsite of today – Lungchang (4510m).

DAY 2 Lungchang to Lamna-la

7~8 hours / 21km / 200m Ascent

Today you will trek from Lungchang to Lamna-la. It is a challenge of both energy and mind because you will walk many strenuous trails while you leave the lower Lungchang to ascent to the high pass of Lamna-la (5150). Remember to walk at a moderate pace and take some necessary rests on route because it is a long trek. Today you will also see several villages and the highest-altitude primary school in the world. Yes, you are not along on this high land in shadow of Mount Everest. After all the efforts you will get your feet on the Lamna-la Pass, and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. From this pass, you have chance to see four of the highest peaks in the world – Mount Everest, Makalu Peak, Cho Oyu Peak and Shishapangma Peak. Last, find a good location to camp and have a good rest.

DAY 3 Lamna-la to Zommug

7~8 hours / 22km / 360m Descent

Today you will trek about 15km from Lamna-la to Zommug Village. The first half is mainly downhill trail which is verdant with a variety of plants. There are many yaks on the hills. Then you will see many white corrals environing expansive plains, which means you are about to get Zommug Village. The plains here are too infertile to grow the Highland Barley. So the only way to make a living is to count on their yaks and sheep. As you approaching Zommug, you can also see the giant Mount Everest and Gyachuang Kang Peak in a distance. This night, camp near Zommug Village.

DAY 4 Zommug to Everest Base Camp

7~8 hours / 15km / 290m Ascent

Today’s trekking goes along a boulder-strewn valley leading to Rongbuk Monastery and EBC without sharp ups and downs. The altitude will increase gently to 5200m at Everest Base Camp. After about 12km’s trekking, you will arrive at the highest monastery in the world – Rongbuk Monastery, and get a wider and closer sight of the mighty Everest. Located about 5100 meters above the sea level, Rongbuk Monastery is the highest monastery in the world. It is the best location to take some great photos of the front face of Mount Everest. Take a short rest at Rongbuk Monastery, you will then keep trekking to EBC. The distance from Rongbuk Monastery to EBC is about 8km, approximately 2 hours’ walking. You will walk to EBC and spend some time enjoying the closer view of Mount Everest, then take a park bus back to Rongbuk Monastery area for camping.

Travel Tips:

1. Best Time to Visit. If you want to travel to Mount Everest, you have to pay close attention to the weather of Mount Everest to select a good time for going. The actual weather is so complex and changeable, mainly up to its weather in real time.

2. Travel Documents Needed. For foreign tourists who plan to tour Mount Everest, travel documents like Tibet Travel Permit, Aliens’ Travel Permit and Border Permit are compulsory as well as Chinese Visa. If you want to tour Mount Everest from Nepal, a Group Visa from Nepal is also required. We will handle all these permits and visas if you take our tour package. For Mt. Everest Mountaineers, you need to get the Mountaineering License issued by Tibet Mountaineer Association.

3. Essential things to pack. Due to the high altitude and thin air, the Mount Everest has strong UV radiation and harsh weather to be up against. Things such as oxygen bottle, altitude sickness medicine, warm clothes, sunblock items (sun cream with high SPF, sunhat, sunglasses, gloves, lip balm, scarf, etc), food, water and other living goods are essential to be carried with.

April to October is the Best Time to Trek Mount Everest

You can trek Everest during April to October when it is warm, clean and beautiful, without extreme weathers like strong snow and rain. The temperatures are also suitable for trekking, usually between 10~25 ℃. There may be frequent rainfalls during July and August, which may make your trekking and camping inconvenient. But the plants along the trails are verdant and various.

Packing Well for the Extreme Weather

Whenever you trekking on Mount Everest, remember to get fully prepared for the climate. The most important thing is to keep warm especially in the night time when the temperatures may decrease to below 0℃. Even in the day time, you should keep warm, which is helpful for prevent from catching a cold on the plateau. A great idea is to bring different clothes for different conditions – daytime, night, rain, snow, etc. A pair of high trekking shoes, an alpenstock, hiking jacket and pants, hat, sunglasses are all necessary. Camping gears like thick tents and sleeping bags are also necessary to be packed with.